Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

Twitch

New member
I play blues, rock, jazz, and funk and am in the market for a new amp. I've played the F-series by Mesa/Boogie and really liked them, but they are out of my price range. I've also played the Nomads, but I didn't like them as much. So I did some research and came across the Dc series and the Subway Rockets. Since I have no way of playing either of them can you guys tell me what you know about them/post reviews/post clips?

My other option is a Peavey Classic 50 w/ a tubescreamer.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

What's your price range? I was recently looking at Mesas, and there were quite a few F-series heads and combos on Ebay for pretty low prices.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

I want to spend around 500 tops. I don't know about head->cab though, because wouldnt that be more expensive than a combo?

And yea I'm definetly buying ebay.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

I've been adding all F-30, F-50, Dc-3, Dc-5, and Subway Reverb Rockets to a folder in my favorites. Just to see what the going price is. They've been getting more expensive as its gotten closer to the holidays. But do you think that a head/cab would be cheaper/more beneficial than a combo? I plan on doing some small venues in the future, but right now its just home use and an occasional jam.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

Hmmm, not sure, do you know which head in particular you're wanting?
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

I thought about it and I definetly want a combo. Does anyone have some information/clips about the Dc's, F series, or subways?
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

The DCs were nice amps, as was the Studio 22. I recently saw a blues band and the guy had one of the subway amps and he sounded amazing. The distortion on the DC and Subway amps is going to be a little more 'classic' sounding than the F series (which sounds a bit more recto-ish to me). The F Series does havethe sweetest clean of all the amps mentioned, however.

A lot of people criticize those amps but I think they offer a pretty good amount of versatility for the buck and are built well.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

Thanks Falstaff. Do you think the F-series w/ a tube screamer would be worth the extra 2-3 hundred dollars? Or is the better clean not worth that much.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

If you're planning to use pedals anyway, the Subway blues is one of the coolest amps there is. They go for around $500 on ebay, but the prices do seem to be going up. I only paid $450 for mine new. so you might grab one quick. As far as the DC series, I think the later ones had the preamp tweeked to be more "recto" like. They are definitely a great buy. I have been playing Boogies for a long time, and I can never get over how reliable they are, no matter what you throw at them they just keep chugging.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

It's nice to see Mesa getting respect here on these boards. Over at g.com they're trashed pretty often in favor of boutique builders.

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Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

I'll probably use some pedals, i.e tube screamer, wah...but not too much. Yea I thought I was convinced on the Dc's but prices have just started skyrocketing, (maybe because of the holidays). Then Aes820 from musicianforums.com told me how great his reverb rocket w/ extension cab was, and I'm looking into that now. Since I'm not gigging now I figure why shell out the extra two hundred for a more powerful amp.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

I played a DC5 for a few years but found it too dark and midrangey for my taste and style. I sold it and got a Nomad 55 with 4 10 inch Jensens and absolutely love it. The clean channel sounds like a really nice pre CBS Super Reverb and the overdrive channels are great for SRV blues-rock tones. It is not suited for metal sounds but for everything else it's great.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

Well it appears all the Dc's that were in my price range weren't in that great of condition. But the reverb rockets were in great condition, and in my price range. So now I think i'm going to snag one of them off of ebay, and if I need to I can make or buy a 2x12 cabinet down the road.

Thanks for the input.
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

i just played a DC 5
i'm in love
if i had the cash - and my wife wouldn't kill me, I'd be the owner of it right now

curious how the dc-3 compares tone wise - cause i doint' really need the 50 watts
 
Re: Mesa/Boogie Dc series/Subway series

The subway blues is great. My favorite Mesa amp is the blue angel, and I'd thoroughly recommend the 1x12 or 2x10 combo if you can find one at the right price. The subway blues is kind of the junior version of the BA. Not as cool or versatile, but still a cool amp.
 
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